Member of Parliament Yeo Wan Ling questioned whether the transport ministry would consider extending the maximum age for taxi and PHC drivers, should the driver be certified to be medically fit to drive a vehicle.
Age correlates with accident rate
In response, Senior Minister of State for Transport Amy Khor shared that the Land Transport Authority (LTA) had commissioned the Singapore Medical Association (SMA) to conduct a study on possibly increasing the statutory age limit for those holding a vocational driving license.
It is important to know if taxi and PHC drivers are fit to drive as they spend a "significant amount of time on the road and are responsible for the safety of commuters and other road users," Khor said.
From the study, using past accident statistics and medical assessments, SMA recommended not to increase the age limit beyond 75 years.
It was found that the accident rate of older vocational drivers is higher than that of younger drivers — taxi and PHC drivers aged 70 to 74 are five to six times more likely to have had an accident as compared to drivers below the age of 60.
Due to safety concerns, LTA assessed and considered SMA's recommendations and decided not to raise the maximum age limit for vocational license holders "for now".
Older drivers aged 50 to 74 can continue to hold valid vocational licenses if they undergo regular checkups and meet the necessary requirements.
In the meantime, LTA will continue to monitor the sector and review the statutory age limit periodically, Khor said.
Will review age limit periodically
Yeo followed up to add that members of the National Taxi Association have expressed their desire to continue driving past the age of 75.
This is because they feel they are still in good health and mental alertness.
Yeo asked Khor if the ministry would consider a license for senior drivers who pass an annual medical examination to drive limited hours or limited routes.
Khor reiterated that the government would continue to review the statutory age limit periodically.
Top photo from ComfortDelGro Taxi / FB